Four years ago today I did one of the bravest things in my life.

I launched a news site.

Sure, I had been a journalist for about 15 years, but going into online publishing was delving into new territory.

The odds were against me. I kept hearing that news was dying. Case in point, my former employer, the Journal Tribune, which had been around for 135 years, had gone out of business.

After I launched Saco Bay News I discovered online publishing was a lot more than uploading a story and hitting send. I learned the term that I kept hearing, SEO, meant search engine optimization and it was kind of a big deal. And if I wanted to succeed, I was going to have to learn more than what the acronym stood for.

 So, I applied for a grant to get SEO coaching. I took free workshops online. I read articles. I learned to use keywords, and longer headlines and smaller photos. Eventually, I beat the Google algorithm and the stories published on Saco Bay News now top Google News searches.

I’ve heard all the statistics – newspapers are shuttering at a rate of two a week, and existing newsrooms are shrinking. And yes, that is terrifying. However, news will only die if we let it.

With the closing of paper newspapers (or legacy papers as we digital news folks like to call them) a new wave of independent online news sources have sprung up. Lion Publishers, a professional association for local independent news publishers in the U.S. and Canada of which I am a member, reported that their membership grew 168 percent from 2019 to 2023 – from 177 members to more than 475.

Hundreds of scrappy people like me all over the country have taken things into their own hands, delivering news where there would otherwise be a void. Many of them are headquartered in home offices, living rooms or basements and run by one person who probably is not getting compensated for all the work they are putting in. Some rely on a team of dedicated volunteers who are helping out in their limited free time. Some publishers must work another job in order to pay the bills (by the way, ask me about my side gig if you’re looking for part-time work in the field of medical acting).

If I’m honest with myself, this model isn’t always sustainable for the future. I’m currently working with other organizations to see if there are measures to take that can change that. I’m hopeful, and I know other publishers are as well.

But what happens when the excitement of a new project wears off and the money still isn’t there? Publishers will upload their last story, say goodbye, and move on to a new career path, one guaranteed to be less stressful and more profitable.

 Then news will really and truly die. There will be no more updates on the local budget, or dogs on the beach (always a popular subject). There will be no more columns on new restaurants (food is also big around here) or feel-good stories about school events or interesting profiles on your neighbors.

Instead, we will rely on information spread on social media, a place where it can be difficult to discern the facts from the half-truths and rumors.

We all can take part in keeping news alive. Websites like Saco Bay News are not hard copy newspapers, but they are real news sources, nonetheless. As news evolves to online sources, readers have to change their way of thinking.

The information just doesn’t fall from the sky onto your computer screen or phone. There are people behind these websites, using time and resources. There are website fees, utilities and libel insurance that must be paid behind the scenes.

A news publication can’t sustain itself without the support of the community it serves. So, if you’re asking yourself what you can do to help, keep reading.

Here are the easy ways to help. You can keep reading stories on Saco Bay News, tell your friends about the stories, and share them on social media. If you want to show your dedication even further, you can sign up for the free weekly email newsletter.

You may have heard about my collaboration with Nick Blunier from Common Roots Studio. Nick designed a super-cool image exclusively for Saco Bay News and you can purchase online a t-shirt, mug or sticker with the image. Proceeds go to Saco Bay News.

Lastly, you can celebrate our fourth birthday by making a contribution. Stories on Saco Bay News are free for anyone to read, but if you want to send us a few bucks – think of it as an honorary subscription or a tip to the news carrier- you can do so online. You can also send a check payable to Saco Bay News at P.O. Box 1191, Saco, ME 04072.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.